Week on the web 22 April

Safety and operations editor David “Learmount” Learmount blogs about the fuss over the success, or otherwise, of the MPL (multi-crew pilot licence) in light of an ICAO review of data on 600 “human products” of the system. Indeed, competency standards are about the only aspect of MPL that’s not in contention. Ultimately, he concludes the industry should just concentrate on ensuring that MPL and traditional routes to flying are as good as they can possibly be – and that the “human products” remain under review indefinitely. And, he examines widespread confusion about Norwegian Air Shuttle’s pilot employment contracting, which has been raising temperatures at flightcrew associations in Europe. Now, they are having the same effect at American pilot unions since the company recently applied for transatlantic services.